Country to the big smoke
The stud making their Ekka debut in 2018
WITH Queensland’s show season almost coming to an end, there’s still one big event on the calendar.
Next week the gates will open to The Royal Queensland Show, better known as the Ekka, and thousands are expected to check it out.
Kirstie and Robert Orphant of Seymour Droughtmasters will make the trip from Gympie to the show with a team of six of their finest.
“This will be our first Ekka with our own droughtmasters, in the past we showed herefords,” she said.
“Rob used to do showing for Yenda Brahmans when he worked there so it’s a bit exciting to be showing our own.
“A highlight for us was when Yenda won supreme exhibitor of the whole show with their bull.”
Mrs Orphant said preparation starts from before a calf is born.
“Ultimately you start haltering them when they are weaned from their mothers,” she said.
“But we pretty much start preparation by deciding what cow we are going to mate with which bull.”
The hard work will continue throughout the event with the family staying with the cattle and checking on things at home.
“We will give them a wash every morning and clean out their bedding,” she said.
❝She’s a real ‘look at me’ sort of girl. — Kirstie Orphant
“Then we’ve got to keep cleaning it out all day to make sure it’s presentable and tidy for the public.
“We will have my parents as well as Rob’s parents and brother keeping an eye on things for us at home and he will go back and forward to check things as well while I stay with the cattle.”
Mrs Orphant said their best chance at a title would be with their top heifer Sophia, who has taken out four titles in their local show circuit.
“She’s a real ‘look at me’ sort of girl,” she said. “She’s got a beautiful temperament and plenty of bone.” The show will give them the chance to get their name out. “We haven’t even been in droughtmasters four years yet,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to show off the cattle we breed.”